Link hinge



R. A. WHITE LINK HINGE July 2, 1929.

, Filed Feb. 25, 1928,

y y ZEE- i QVVITNESSS 5M Patented July 2, 19290 nutren stares PATENT OFFICE.

ROY A. WHITE, OF WALKER TOW'NSHIP, KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR 10 AMERICAN SEATING COMPANY, OI" GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

LINK HINGE.

Application filed February 25, 1928. Serial No. 256,829.

This irw-ention relates to a link hinge and more particularly to a floating hinge for use in conjunction with seat supporting legs of folding or collapsible chairs.

The main objects of this invention are to I provide anv improved. form of `floating hinge; to provide a link hinge for use in conjuno tion with seat supporting legs of folding chairs; 'to provide a hinge for folding chair legs having improved means for equallzmg strains on each of the chair stretehers; to provide a link hinge for seat supporting members whereby squeaks and like noises are minimized; to provide a link hinge for folding chair legs to minimize unequal wear on each of the chair stretehers; to provide a link hinge which permits a maximum of close folding ofthe chair legs; and, to provide an improved form of link hinge having a limited universal joint movement between the seat supporting legs.

An illustrative embodimentj of the invention :is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a perspective view of a pla rality of folding chairs secured together 1n ali gmnent Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional View showing the manner of securing the folding chair legs by means of the improved form of link hinge;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary end View of the front and rear folding chair legs secured together by the improved form of link hinge; and

Figure l is a plan view of the improved form of link hinge per se.

Referring to the drawings, a plurality of front legs l of a plurality of folding chairs are secured together in alignment by a pair of transversely disposed stretchers 2. The stretchers are spaced apart and may be secured to the legs l on opposite sides thereof in any Aconvenient manner. A plurality of rear legs 3 extend between the spaced stretch ers 2 and are similarly secured in alignnient by a single transversely disposed stretcher 4t. Y

"i ie trent and rear scanned. tom

gether by a link hinge 5 whose opposite ends are pivotally connected to each of said legs respectively as by screws to provide a flozitmg hinge therebetween in order that the weight on the seats 6 will be equally sus tained by `each of the stretchers 2. One end of the link hinge provided with a concave` convex portion 7 whose convex portion bears against the surface of the long leg l at its pivotal connection with the rear leg 3 in order to provide for a limited universal. joint movement as well as a floating hinge between the respective pairs of front and rear legs.

The seats G are supported by the upper ends of the legs 3 and are pivotally connected at their respective backs to the legs 1 which are considerably longer in order to provide supports for the chair backs 8.

Thus it will be seen that the improved form of link hinge is particularly adapted for equalizing seat weight strains on each `of the stretchers and it likewise provides `for a 'limited universal Joint movement between the seat supporting legs of folding chairs.

lVhile but one specific embodiment of the invent-ion has been herein shown and described7 it will be understood that numerous details thereof may be alt-ered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the involition delined by the following claims.

I claim:

l. In a folding chair, a pair of front legs and a, pair of rear legs, a pair of stretchers transversely and spacedly secured to one pair of said legs on opposite sides thereof and adjacent opposite sides of the other pair of` hinges pivotally connecting the legs, link front and rear legs, the upper ends of the links being secured to the said front legs, and the lower ends of the links being secured to the rear legs below the points of intersection of the front and rear legs whereby the said legs are supported by the stretchers andacommodate themselves to uneven. supporting surfaces.

2. a tol g chair., a pair of transversely and secureclto one of said legs and adjacent opposite Sides of the other leg, and a link hinge Whose opposite ends are eaoli pivotzrlly secured to each of said legs, one end of Said link having a concave portion contacting one of said legs to provide a limited uni- Versal joint movement'J between said legs for eqnnlizing the bearing portions of' the logs intermediate the stretchors when :mid legs :ire resting upon nnovon .sm-luces.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto Hety my hand at Grand Rapids, l\licl1ig:1n, thin 22nd day of February, 1928.

ROY A. VHITE. 

